These three sustainable products make life a little less waste-y

Yimby Rotating Composter

It seems to be on many people’s lists to “start composting.” From the outside, it seems a little daunting. What do you put in it? Where do you put it? Will it be gross? Will it smell bad? What about bugs, rodents, cats, dogs and monkeys? It seems to be the ultimate sustainable product to own but how can you know which one is right?

About this sustainable product

The Yimby Tumbler Rotating Composter puts this all to rest. Priced at under $100 (at the time of this post), the only drawback this composter seems to have to its higher-priced cousins is that is arrives un-assembled. But, if a four-year-old can help put it together (mine did) then it can’t be too bad. It took me less than an hour to assemble, in fading sunlight, while patiently working with my son and being frequently interrupted. The plastic is made of 100% recycled polypropylene and appears very sturdy. Time will tell but if it can endure an Arizona summer, then it can withstand anything (will provide an update post-summer).

About composting with a rotating composter

The idea behind this rotating composter and many others is that you have two chambers. You add material to one side while the other side is “cooking” for anywhere from two to six weeks. You rotate the bin whenever you add new material every two days or so. This is in lieu of turning a big compost pile which is especially difficult for anyone with back issues. (Hi, yeah, that’s me.) You include both “brown” (dried leaves, yard waste or shredded newspaper) and “green” (non-meat food scraps, coffee grinds, nut shells and egg shells) materials with each addition so the mix doesn’t become too soggy or too dry.

The results

I’m still in the process of “cooking” my first batch of compost but it already seems off to a good start. There’s lots of good bug activity in there that stays contained to the bin. It’s also not too dry or too wet and it’s incredibly easy to rotate. I’m looking forward to this sustainable product making a nutritious addition to my vegetable garden.

Pedro’s Go! bicycle lubricant

Pedro’s GO! Low Viscosity Chain Lube

For many people, deciding to ride a bike rather than drive is about not contributing to the petroleum industry. This can be a little conflicting when every time you have to clean and lubricate your bike, the products are petroleum-based. To my pleasant surprise, I discovered Pedro’s GO!, a nifty sustainable product that is biodegradable, made in the USA and vegetable-based. The dry, dusty conditions in Arizona mean frequent cleaning and lubing your bike. After cleaning my chain and the surrounding parts with an old toothbrush and spray cleaner like Meyers, I only needed a few drops of Pedro’s. My chain never got gunky and it seemed to perform smooth and well. If your local bike shop doesn’t carry a petroleum alternative, ask them to! If they need a suggestion, suggest Pedro’s. They have an entire line of biodegradable bike products.

Felt Dryer Balls from MightyFix subscription

Felt Dryer Balls!

They’re on Amazon, they’re on Etsy, they’re even at Bed, Bath and Beyond! If you haven’t purchased the well-priced, easily-reusable wool felt dryer ball set yet, what are you waiting for? Of course, if you’re abiding by our previous post about air drying your clothes, this won’t apply to you. For the rest of you, the concept behind this sustainable product is simple. Instead of purchasing disposable, synthetically-scented dryer sheets, you toss these three balls in with your laundry in the dryer. A friend who tried these out said it took about ten fewer minutes to dry her clothes and everything came out very fluffy and soft. One slight drawback might be that for pet owners, the pet fur gathers on the balls. But the upside is that the fur does not then transfer to your clothes. So, the balls may end up looking a little more furry than you’d like but your clothes will still be fur-free!

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